Latest news with #TorontoPublicHealth
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
Toronto Public Health faces staffing crisis, plummeting public trust and dwindling resources, report finds
Toronto Public Health (TPH) is facing a loss of staff, resources and public trust following COVID, a recent report to the city's board of health finds. The annual report is a summary of challenges the agency is facing — from a staff exodus to a torrent of public health misinformation in the wake of the pandemic — as well as potential solutions to those problems. Gta Eileen de Villa talks COVID, scarves and her guiding spiritual principle as she prepares to leave Toronto Public Health Toronto's outgoing medical officer of health talked to the Star in a wide-ranging interview 'TPH continues to meet its mandate and provide high-quality and evidence informed public health interventions to the people of Toronto,' Dr. Na-Koshie Lamptey, the city's acting medical officer of health, said in an email to the Star. 'Risks can be fluid in nature, as such risk management is an ongoing process for the organization.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A shallow talent pool TPH is experiencing a staff exodus, following employee burnout and fatigue in the aftermath of the pandemic, according to the report. Adding to this are increased demands to address disease outbreaks, the drug toxicity epidemic and emerging issues like extreme heat and declining air quality brought on by climate change. The staffing crisis comes at a time when the agency is experiencing an uptick in retirements and the departures of staff for other opportunities, the report said. It's the third year in a row that limited staff was flagged as a risk factor. The report deemed the issue a 'high risk,' assessing it as being both 'likely to occur' and having a 'substantial impact on time, cost or quality' of the agency's services. 'Toronto Public Health has taken action to address this risk,' the report said, noting the agency was dedicating resources to growing its employee wellness program. Politics Ontario government aims to fast-track cancer drugs in new pilot project The new program will get the latest cancer drugs to patients at least nine months faster. Politics Ontario government aims to fast-track cancer drugs in new pilot project The new program will get the latest cancer drugs to patients at least nine months faster. Dwindling resources The public health agency has exhausted much of its resources battling the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of mpox and meningococcal disease, a worsening drug epidemic and other recent health emergencies, the report found. As a result, it's been left vulnerable to other emerging public health issues. TPH is currently working on its ability to identify and respond to public health issues in a thorough and timely way, the report noted. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW This challenge was deemed a 'medium risk,' having been found 'as likely to occur as not to occur' but having a 'substantial impact on time, cost or quality' of its services. To rectify the issue, the report recommended prioritizing public health incidents based on their population risk and enhancing relations with provincial, national and international jurisdictions for disease surveillance, among other strategies. Loss of trust in public health advice The report acknowledged that trust in public health institutions and their advice has plummeted following a barrage of disinformation, misinformation and general exhaustion in the wake of the pandemic. Dwindling public trust was also deemed a risk in 2024. It was thought of as a 'medium risk,' assessed as being 'likely to occur' and having a 'notable impact on time, cost or quality' of services. 'This increases the need for meaningful population engagement to maintain public trust,' the report noted. It recommended reinforcing TPH's position as a trusted and reliable source of information, partly through improved public messaging on the city's website. Gta Toronto Public Health says it saw 'many deviations' at gynecologist's clinic with potential HIV, hepatitis exposure Toronto Public Health says it observed 'many deviations' that led to it notifying 2,500 patients of a potential exposure to blood-borne viruses. Gta Toronto Public Health says it saw 'many deviations' at gynecologist's clinic with potential HIV, hepatitis exposure Toronto Public Health says it observed 'many deviations' that led to it notifying 2,500 patients of a potential exposure to blood-borne viruses.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Yorkville restaurant dinged by Toronto health inspectors for multiple infractions
Two restaurants, including an Italian eatery in the heart of Yorkville, were served multiple infractions by Toronto health inspectors last week. Vaticano Ristorante, located at 25 Bellair St., received a conditional pass notice after getting hit with nine infractions — one crucial and eight significant violations — on Thursday, according to Toronto Public Health. The restaurant, which offers traditional Italian cuisine and has been described on TripAdvisor as a 'hidden gem,' remains open to the public. Vaticano's lone crucial violation was failing to protect food from contamination or adulteration. Most of its eight significant infractions were equipment-related such as the food equipment was not of sound and tight construction, the equipment used was not free from cracks in contact with food, failing to provide a thermometer in refrigeration equipment, and the mechanical equipment was not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse. Vaticano's utensils were 'not of readily cleanable form,' the hand-washing stations were not maintained with soap and paper towels, while the station was used for something 'other than for (the) hand-washing of employees.' The restaurant also failed to protect against the harbouring of pests. Meanwhile, Salma Café & Restaurant at 4 John St. in York, was slammed with a whopping 15 infractions on Wednesday — three crucial, seven significant, four minor and one 'other.' Like Vaticano, Salma, which serves African comfort food, also received a conditional pass notice and remains open to the public, according to Toronto Public Health. Its three crucial infractions were maintaining and storing potentially hazardous foods at internal temperature between 4C and 60C, and failing to protect food from contamination or adulteration. Its seven significant violations were failing to maintain hand-washing stations with hot and cold water, as well as soap and paper towels, and not equipping the sanitary facility with paper towels or a dryer. Salma also failed to provide a thermometer in refrigeration equipment, did not sanitize multi-service articles after use, failed to protect against the harbouring of pests, and did not maintain records of pest control measures taken. The establishment's four minor infractions were not protecting against the entry of pests, failing to ensure equipment surface were sanitized as necessary, not maintaining the food-handling room in sanitary condition, and keeping the food-handling room free from equipment not regularly used. As for its 'other' violation, Salma failed to ensure a food-handler or supervisor was present during all hours of operation. A detailed list of infractions at Toronto restaurants can be found on DineSafe. Popular Jamaican restaurant hit with 11 infractions from Toronto health inspectors Toronto health inspectors serve two popular restaurants with nine violations each Toronto bakery Commisso put on notice by health inspectors again
Hamilton Spectator
08-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto Public Health is starting to suspend students over their vaccine records. Here's what to do if you've received a letter
Toronto Public Health has started to issue suspensions to some of the thousands of Toronto high school students whose records aren't up to date on required vaccinations. In a statement, the agency said over 10,000 Grade 11 students born in 2008 aren't caught up on immunizations in accordance with Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). TPH is gradually rolling out these suspension orders, starting with 21 secondary schools, from which an initial group of 173 pupils were suspended Tuesday — a number that has since decreased to 131, according to Dr. Vinita Dubey. Dubey, TPH's associate medical officer of health, told the Star on Wednesday the decline in the suspensions is due to more vaccinations or valid exemptions being reported after the initial suspension orders. As of Wednesday, of a second group of students from another 20 public Toronto high schools, 268 Grade 11 students are being suspended. 'Every day there's going to be more and more students who will be suspended. And hopefully more and more students who will also come off the suspension list,' she said. Suspensions will be sent across Toronto post-secondary schools on a rolling schedule until May. TPH says from the first batch of students at the 21 schools, the records of 957 students — about 70 per cent — weren't up to date at first, which means they received a letter from TPH about the missing vaccinations. A month later, 58 per cent were up to date. The remaining 574 students were sent suspension orders. Ontario is experiencing one of its largest measles outbreaks in decades though most recent vaccine suspensions are related to other diseases . The ISPA requires students to be vaccinated for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and pertussis (whooping cough). Students must also receive the vaccine for varicella — commonly known as chickenpox — if they're born in 2010 or later. Under this act, immunizations for the nine diseases are mandatory unless a valid exemption is on file, for medical, religious or conscientious reasons. Failure to meet these requirements could lead to a suspension from school for up to 20 days. During the COVID-19 pandemic, routine school-based vaccination programs for Grade 7 students were mostly unavailable, resulting in a number of current Grade 11 students falling behind on vaccinations for hepatitis B, HPV and meningococcal vaccines. Dubey said it's normal for parents and students to take a while to respond to these letters due to factors including language barriers for newcomers and situations when parents don't recognize 'this is something that has to be dealt with right away, or even that there's a suspension associated with this.' The agency doesn't just rely on the letter to inform parents but also sends the suspension list to principals to contact students' parents. Immunization assessments were conducted by TPH starting in the fall, revealing that of the 24,678 students born in 2008, only 26 per cent were initially on record with their vaccinations, prompting the agency to send letters to the families of 18,320 students missing immunizations. By February, 59 per cent of students were up to date — but the remaining 10,000 who didn't meet the ISPA got notices that if they didn't provide updated information to TPH, they would be suspended. Dubey said sometimes the onus is on parents to contact TPH to provide a child's up-to-date immunization record to avoid suspension, even if their child has already received their required vaccines. This is because sometimes TPH doesn't have all records or the child might be missing a booster dose. 'What parents don't recognize is their child may be fully vaccinated and they did the right thing and they got the vaccination,' she said. 'But unfortunately, there's no way for the physician to report the vaccination directly to public health. And so this is where the parent actually has to report the vaccination to us,' she said, adding that they're 'better off' contacting TPH to make sure the record is up to date. TPH says this 'underscores the importance of an electronic immunization registry .' TPH can help clarify to parents what vaccines their children are missing and Dubey says 'as long as we know that the child has started the process of getting vaccinations, we can pause the suspension.' Parents and students can call TPH (416-338-7600) for questions.
Toronto Star
02-05-2025
- Health
- Toronto Star
Toronto Public Health warns of measles exposure at Ripley's Aquarium on Easter Monday
Toronto Public Health is warning the public of a potential measles exposure at Ripley's Aquarium on Easter Monday. Anybody who visited the tourist attraction on April 21 between 1 and 7 p.m. is at risk of the highly contagious disease, officials said in a release on Friday. Schools were closed for the holiday. Measles spreads easily and can stay on surfaces for two hours. It spreads though the air when somebody infected breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The exposure comes amid a recent province-wide uptick of the disease. Ontario saw 223 new infections just last week. Symptoms could include a fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, a red rash that begins on the face and spreads down the body. Small blue-white spots are also possible around the inside of your mouth and throat the inside of the mouth and throat. Ripley's Aquarium told the Star that public health officials warned them Thursday about an attendee 'with a reported case of measles, who recently visited the city.' 'Our building is regularly sanitized throughout the day. In addition, our state-of-the-art HVAC systems provide the highest level of air quality for our entire building,' the tourist attraction said. Toronto Public Health has confirmed three lab confirmed cases this year. They are advising anybody who is worried that they may have contacted the virus to check their vaccination records and monitor for symptoms. 'Measles is highly transmissible,' said Eleanor Fish, a professor of immunology at the University of Toronto. Unvaccinated visitors who were exposed to the virus that day are at risk of infection, she added. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'The concern would surround unvaccinated young individuals as well as immunocompromised and elderly individuals,' Fish said. Measles vaccination is close to 100 per cent protective with a 'high safety profile,' she said. 'We should not be seeing hospitalizations, any deaths or long-term effects from measles infection,' Fish continued. 'These are all avoidable with vaccination.' With files from Kevin Jiang
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Toronto gynecologist under scrutiny for disinfection of tools resigns from college
TORONTO — A gynecologist has resigned from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario after Toronto Public Health told patients earlier this year that instruments were not properly cleaned and disinfected at her clinic. A notice on the college website states that Dr. Esther Park, whose licence was restricted to office-based gynecology in December, will effectively stop practising medicine this Wednesday. It says Park is resigning following investigations into her care that were launched after two public complaints. It also states that Park promises to never reapply to register as a doctor in Ontario or anywhere else, and that her resignation means those investigations are now over. Mickey Cirak, a communications adviser at the college, said this goes a step further than other measures imposed by the college. "Unlike with licence revocations, doctors who sign these types of undertakings will not be able to reapply for reinstatement of their licence in the future," Cirak said Monday. The college says the reason Park resigned and the complaints that led up to it are confidential. The Canadian Press has not been able to reach Park for comment by telephone, which goes straight to voice mail. CP has previously made attempts to speak with Park at her clinic, but she did not return a request for comment. Medical malpractice lawyer Paul Harte, a 30-year veteran who has not been involved in this matter, said such deals are not uncommon and typically happen when there are significant concerns with patient care and/or the physician is nearing the end of their career. "Those sorts of deals, on the one hand, obviously protect the public from the doctor in question, but it doesn't provide transparency to the public and it ignores the potential for general deterrence," Harte said. He said that leaves patients in the dark. "One of the lingering issues is, should the college have acted sooner? What did the college know and when? That information will never be known in the absence of a public hearing," Harte said. Park's resignation states she was not referred to the discipline tribunal, which typically posts details of allegations and outcomes online. Park had sent out a notice of retirement to patients in January informing them that her practice would close at the end of April. Karin Martin, one of Park's former patients, said she's raging. She was one of the 2,500 patients who received a letter from Toronto Public Health in February warning of potential exposure to blood-borne viruses including HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C due to what it described as a failure to properly clean, disinfect and sterilize medical instruments. Martin, who had three biopsies with Park last year, said ending the investigations into Park's practice is "insane," adding that she's concerned the public may never know what the patient complaints were about. "She just gets to walk away now?" she said. Martin said her anger is directed at Park, the college and government regulatory bodies. The college closed its investigation without disclosing if it was complete. "CPSO's primary mandate is to serve in the public interest through the regulation of physicians and physician assistants. We take concerns about accountability and transparency seriously," the college said in an email Monday. According to the college's website, Park obtained her medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1993 and she opened her own clinic in 2006. Unity Health said she practised at St. Joseph's Health Centre for 25 years, stopped practising at the hospital in July 2024 and resigned in December. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2025. Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content. Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press
